Resting-State Alpha-Band Functional Connectivity Predicts Implicit Motor Adaptation in a Serial Reaction Time Task

Resting state electroencephalography power correlates with individual differences in implicit sequence learning

“…At a general level, the results of the current study are consistent with a growing literature demonstrating resting state neural activity likely facilitates subsequent learning and memory processes (Deco & Corbetta, 2011;Manuel et al, 2018;Mathewson et al, 2012;Mizuguchi et al, 2019;Sadaghiani & Kleinschmidt, 2013;Stillman et al, 2013;Sugata et al, 2020;van Dyck et al, 2021;Wu et al, 2014). Based on the results of our study and others (Sugata et al, 2020;Trofimova et al, 2019;van Dyck et al, 2021), this also appears to be the case when implicitly learning a visuospatial-motor sequence. It will be interesting to investigate whether similar effects are present beyond the visuospatial-motor domain, for example, implicitly learning statistical dependencies that exist in speech sounds (e.g., Gomez, 2002;Saffran et al, 1999), a process that supports language acquisition (Romberg & Saffran, 2010).…”

“…This may be due to differences in data acquisition and/or data analysis methods. In past studies (Sugata et al, 2020; Trofimova et al, 2019; van der Cruijsen et al, 2021), analyses of oscillatory activity were undertaken using source reconstruction by integrating high‐density M/EEG recordings (>128 sensors/electrodes) with participant magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Additionally, resting state activity was computed in terms of functional connectivity, which measures synchronisation between different brain regions (e.g., Stam et al, 2007; Vinck et al, 2011).…”

“…To our knowledge, at least three studies have found that resting state oscillatory activity correlates with individual differences in implicit sequence learning. Sugata et al (2020), Trofimova et al (2019) and van Dyck et al (2021) acquired M/EEG resting state data before participants completed the serial reaction time (SRT) task. On this task, participants implicitly learn a visuospatial‐motor sequence by repeatedly pressing one of four buttons on a response panel in response to a visual stimulus (Nissen & Bullemer, 1987; Robertson, 2007; Schwarb & Schumacher, 2012).…”

“…van Dyck et al (2021) and Trofimova et al (2019) found that functional connectivity in the alpha band correlated with implicit sequence learning in children and adults, respectively. Specifically, van Dyck et al (2021) found alpha resting state functional connectivity between the primary motor cortex and parietal lobe positively correlated with implicit learning.…”

“…Specifically, van Dyck et al (2021) found alpha resting state functional connectivity between the primary motor cortex and parietal lobe positively correlated with implicit learning. Trofimova et al (2019) found that overall functional connectivity within different regions of the brain positively correlated with implicit learning. Alpha synchronisation has an inhibitory effect on cortical activity (Klimesch et al, 2007).…”